Tag Archives: recompense

In ancient Israel, the priests in the Temple would sing a different Psalm for each day of the week during their daily worship services. For Wednesday, they sang Psalm 94 which focuses on vengeance being part of God’s care for His people. I can understand how these words could be of comfort to God’s children.

I also like what Matthew Henry’s Commentary has to say about this Psalm:

Verses 1-11: The danger and folly of persecutors:

We may with boldness appeal to God; for He is the almighty Judge by whom every man is judged. Let this encourage those who suffer wrong, to bear it with silence, committing themselves to Him who judges righteously. These prayers are prophecies, which speak terror to the sons of violence. There will come a day of reckoning for all the hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against God, His truths, and ways, and people. It would hardly be believed, if we did not witness it, that millions of rational creatures should live, move, speak, hear, understand, and do what they purpose, yet act as if they believed that God would not punish the abuse of His gifts. As all knowledge is from God, no doubt He knows all the thoughts of the children of men, and He knows that the imaginations of the thoughts of men’s hearts are only evil, and that continually. Even in good thoughts, there is a want of being fixed, which may be called vanity. It concerns us to keep a strict watch over our thoughts, because God takes particular notice of them. Thoughts are words to God.

Verses 12-23: Comfort and peace to the persecuted:

That man is blessed, who, under the chastening of the Lord, is taught His will and His truths, from His Holy Word, and by the Holy Spirit. He should see mercy through his sufferings. There is a rest remaining for the people of God after the days of their adversity, which shall not last always. He that sends the trouble, will send the rest. The psalmist found succour and relief only in the Lord, when all early friends failed. We are beholden, not only to God’s power, but to His pity, for spiritual supports; and if we have been kept from falling into sin, or shrinking from our duty, we should give Him the glory, and encourage our brethren. The psalmist had many troubled thoughts concerning the case he was in, concerning the course he should take, and what was likely to be the end of it. The indulgence of such contrivances and fears, adds to care and distrust, and renders our views more gloomy and confused. Good men sometimes have perplexed and distressed thoughts concerning God. But let them look to the great and precious promises of the Gospel. The world’s comforts give little delight to the soul, when hurried with melancholy thoughts; but God’s comforts bring that peace and pleasure which the smiles of the world cannot give, and which the frowns of the world cannot take away. God is His people’s Refuge, to whom they may flee, in whom they are safe, and may be secure. And He will reckon with the wicked. A man cannot be more miserable than his own wickedness will make him, if the Lord visit it upon him.

7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. (Really, how ignorant to think that Almighty God shall not see ALL!)

8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?

9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?

11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. (The wicked WILL be judged, some during out time, and some on The Judgment Day, according to God’s plan.)

14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.